Solar panels have the power to make the aviation industry greener than it’s ever been, but they can also impose challenges for pilots and air traffic control. Fortunately, University of Waterloo researchers are discovering ways to make this vital source of clean energy work for airports around the world.
University of Waterloo researchers have developed an innovative double-skin building façade that contains microalgae and uses machine learning to generate energy.
Operating a building is often costly given the price of heating and energy usage, accounting for 37 per cent of global CO2 emissions. As more commercial and mixed-use buildings are constructed across Canada, using sustainable energy measures to manage their environmental impact is vital to the health of our planet.
Over the past year, the Waterloo Climate Institute has collaborated closely with Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), which serves the regions of Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas, to identify critical climate-related health risks in the region. Using the latest climate change projections and focusing on the most vulnerable populations, the resulting report lays out recommendations to enhance preparedness and resilience in tackling these challenges in the region.
The University of Waterloo’s Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) generated a significant labour and economic impact after its initial year of investment from the federal government.
Funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) in February 2023 generated 79 permanent new jobs, $1.5 million in direct investments and $1.38 million in sales of new products, processes and services.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have received $2.5 million in funding to reimagine how waste materials — such as plastics, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and agricultural residues — can be converted into marketable products.
The funding was awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) as part of the National Science Foundation Global Centers initiative. Waterloo researchers are part of the Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy (CIRCLE).
Hydrilla verticillate (hydrilla), one of North America’s most invasive species, was found for the first time in Canada.
In an era where climate change is more visible than ever — rising urban temperatures, extreme weather events and increasing instances of poor air quality from wildfire smoke — the demand for accurate and trustworthy information is critical. The University of Waterloo, in collaboration with the Waterloo Climate Institute, hosted an impactful community lecture addressing this pressing issue.
Waterloo is a leader in sustainability research and education. Home to the largest Faculty of Environment in Canada, Waterloo has been a catalyst for environmental innovation, solutions and talent for 50 years.
Partners for Action (P4A), a research initiative in the Faculty of Environment, has released the results of a three-year research project focused on equitable community resilience in the face of climate change, culminating in multiple comprehensive reports.